International School Exchange between Gorey Community School and Seisa High School

On 20 May, Ambassador MIYAGAWA Manabu visited Gorey Community School in Co. Wexford to welcome students from Seisa High School in Yokohama, Japan. The Japanese students met with students at Gorey and exchanged greetings, music, and dance performances!

Later, the students formed teams with members from both schools combining their knowledge for a quiz on Japanese and Irish culture! The roars from the winning teams after each round were something to behold! 

The Embassy expresses its sincere thanks to Mr Hajime Kaneko, Principal of SEISA High School, Mr Michael Finn, Principal of Gorey Community School, Ms Susan Wilson, Japanese teacher at Gorey Community School and Chairperson of the Japanese Language Teachers of Ireland, and all staff and students from both schools for their kind invitation to this wonderful event. 

The Embassy also hopes that exchange between both schools continues to flourish and that it can help to facilitate more cooperation between schools in Japan and Ireland. 

Ambassador MIYAGAWA gave the following speech as part of the welcome ceremony:

Good morning everyone,
皆さん、おはようございます。
Principal Finn, Principal KANEKO, distinguished teachers, distinguished guests, and dear students from Seisa High School and Gorey Community School,
It is a great pleasure and privilege for me to join you today and to celebrate this very special exchange between your two Schools.
フィン校長先生、金子校長先生、諸先生方、ご来賓の皆様、そして星槎高校とゴーリー・コミュニティ・スクールの生徒の皆さん。
本日ここに皆さんとご一緒でき、また両校のこの特別な交流をお祝いできますことを、大変嬉しく、光栄に思います。
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the staff, students, and families of Gorey Community School for your warm Irish welcome to the visiting group from Japan.  
日本からの訪問団を温かいアイルランド流のおもてなしで迎えてくださったゴーリー・コミュニティ・スクールの教職員、生徒、そしてご家族の皆様に、心より感謝申し上げます。
Both of your schools share something truly important, creating an environment in which every student can thrive academically, socially, and personally, placing the student at the centre of education.  
両校は、「すべての生徒が学業面でも、社会面でも、人間的にも成長できる環境をつくり、生徒を教育の中心に据える」という、本当に大切な理念を共有しています。
These values remind us that education is not only about examinations. It is also about learning how to live together, how to understand different perspectives, and how to contribute positively to society.
こうした価値観は、教育とは単に試験のためだけのものではない、ということを私たちに思い起こさせてくれます。教育とは、共に生きる方法を学び、異なる考え方を理解し、社会に前向きに貢献する方法を学ぶことでもあります。
Ireland and Japan are geographically far apart, at the western and eastern edges of the Eurasian Continent.  I am sure that through today’s programme, students will discover that international friendship is not an abstract idea, but something personal and real — created through conversations, laughter, music, sport, and shared experiences.
アイルランドと日本は、ユーラシア大陸の西端と東端に位置し、地理的には遠く離れています。しかし、本日のプログラムを通じて、生徒の皆さんは、国際的な友情とは抽象的な概念ではなく、会話や笑い、音楽、スポーツ、そして経験を共有することを通して築かれる、身近で現実的なものであることを発見すると思います。
Next year, Japan and Ireland will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations. 
The future of Japan-Ireland relations will not be built only by governments or diplomats. It will also be shaped by young people like you — young people who are open-minded, compassionate, and willing to learn from one another.
来年、日本とアイルランドは外交関係樹立70周年を迎えます。
これからの日・アイルランド関係は、政府や外交官だけによって築かれるものではありません。皆さんのような若者たち――広い心を持ち、思いやりがあり、お互いから学ぼうとする若者たち――によっても形作られていくのです。
I sincerely hope that the bonds formed here in Gorey will continue to grow long into the future. I wish all students and teachers a most memorable exchange programme.
私は、ここゴーリーで築かれた絆が、これから先も長く育まれていくことを心より願っています。生徒・先生方の皆様にとって、この交流プログラムが忘れがたい素晴らしいものとなりますようお祈り申し上げます。
Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
どうもありがとうございました。